Fork.



No. 856,685. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

W. HAZZARD.

FORK.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 27, 1907.

1X. m zoom UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

l WILLIAM HAZZARD, OF LORAIN, OHIO.

FORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Beit known that 1, WILLIAM IIAZZARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lo rain, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is acombined fork, grapple and knife, intended particularly for handling .all kinds of meats, vegetables, hot dishes and the like, or in fact anything which .it is desired to lift or move without contact or graspingof the hands. For example, when meat is taken from a boiler it frequently slips from a straight fork and fallsback into the water, causing a splash which is apt to scald the cook. By means of the present device meat can be lifted from boiling water, or from a baking pan, without danger of scalding or burning the hands. The knife attachment serves to cut strings around roasts and the like, and can be utilized in various other ways. A shield is also provided which incloses the handles and prevents exposure of the hand to hot grease and the like.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the implement in open position. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof in closed position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, indicates a shank provided at the front end with a set of tines 6 forming a straight fork, and at the rear end with a handle 20.

At 11 are indicated a pair of curved fingers which work to and from the tines and are adapted to grasp or book meats or other substances or articles, which it may be desired -to lift. These fingers are pivoted at 13 to opposite sides of the shank 10 and are connected by a rod 7 to a hand lever 9 opposite the handle. The rod is pivoted at.14 to the fingers and at 15 to the hand lever, which lever is pivoted at 18 to the shank. The lever projects in opposite position to the handle 20, and a spring 12 is located therebetween and acts to normally hold the fingers open.

At 30 is indicated a knife blade whichis or may be sharpened on both edges and which projects laterally behind the fingers 11. This blade projects from or is formed integral with a cross sleeve 37 which has a square bore to receive a square bolt 39 by which it is fastened to the fingers 11. A thumb nut 33, on the end of the bolt, serves to hold the parts together.

The handle and hand lever 9 are inclosed or protected by means of a bellshaped shield 36 which is riveted to the shank 10 at 34. The rod 7 works lengthwise throlgh an opening in the front end of the shield, so that the fingers may be opened or closed, that is, swung to orfrom the tines 6, by operation of the hand lever. 11, as well as the tines 6, are sharpened at the front ends so that they will take into and engage pieces of meat or other substance In use, for example, in lifting meat from a boiler or baking pan, the tines 6 are thrust into the meat and the fingers 11 closed to grasp the same. This gives a sure hold on the meat, and it may be lifted and carried with convenience and safety. For cutting strings or vegetables, trimming meats, and the like, the blade can be used. The square bolt 39 prevents the knife turning. 'If the knife is not needed it can be detached by unscrewing and removing the bolt.

I claim:

A grapplingfork having s aced grasping fingers, a blade projecting aterally therefrom and having a tubular sleeve at the heel thereof extending across between the fingers, and a clamping bolt extending through the fingers and the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I do aflix my signa* ture, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM IIAZZARI).

Witnesses:

GEO. D. CLARKE, Roscoe C. WIXSON.

The fingers 

